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A Chinese takeaway owner who was brutally attacked with a hammer in his kitchen saw his three assailants jailed for almost 20 years.

The victim of the lengthy assault lost sight in one eye after he suffered a “hole in his eyeball” and a fractured skull.

The 45-year-old proprietor was left with life-threatening injuries and permanent life-changing disability, and had up to 20 operations including a corneal transplant to try to save his sight.

He and his wife stepped into the witness box on Monday to tell movingly how the savage attack closed the business, ruined their lives and had far-reaching psychological, physical and financial effects.

The owner told Teesside Crown Court : “My life is terrible now. I feel I cannot see the end of this pain.

“This attack has changed my life forever, I can never forgive these people.”

Zheng Guan Lin, 43, his nephew Jian Zeng Lin, 41, and Jian Zhu, 34, headed to the Wings Chinese takeaway, in Stockton, and attacked the victim on January 21.

Jian Zhu (Image: Cleveland Police)

Jian Zeng Lin (Image: Cleveland Police)

Zheng Guan Lin (Image: Cleveland Police)

They worked for food wholesalers Ichina, and the takeaway owner had just ended a heated phone call with Zheng Lin, who told him: “Do you want to die? Just wait there.”

Judge Stephen Ashurst said the trio intended either to punish him for changing supplier or enforce an alleged £500 debt.

Zheng Lin took a hammer with him as the three men drove to the Oxbridge Lane takeaway.